Spur
noun
A device with a small spike or a spiked wheel that is worn on a rider's heel and used for urging a horse forward.
He gently kicked the horse with his spurs.
Often appears as...
- wear a spur
- dig with spur
noun
Something that encourages or stimulates to action.
The reward was a spur to greater efforts.
Often appears as...
- spur to action
- spur to greater efforts
verb
Urge (a horse) forward by digging one's spurs into its sides.
She spurred her horse towards the hedge.
Often appears as...
- spur a horse
- spur forward
verb
Give an incentive or encouragement to (someone).
His friend's plight had spurred him into taking action.
Often appears as...
- spur into action
- spur to do something
noun
A thing that projects or juts from something, such as a piece of rock in the landscape or a railway from the main line.
We had to climb over a rocky spur.
Often appears as...
- rocky spur
- mountain spur
Usage tips
Geology
noun
A device with a small spike or a spiked wheel that is worn on a rider's heel and used for urging a horse forward.
He gently kicked the horse with his spurs.
Often appears as...
- wear a spur
- dig with spur
noun
Something that encourages or stimulates to action.
The reward was a spur to greater efforts.
Often appears as...
- spur to action
- spur to greater efforts
verb
Urge (a horse) forward by digging one's spurs into its sides.
She spurred her horse towards the hedge.
Often appears as...
- spur a horse
- spur forward
verb
Give an incentive or encouragement to (someone).
His friend's plight had spurred him into taking action.
Often appears as...
- spur into action
- spur to do something
noun
A thing that projects or juts from something, such as a piece of rock in the landscape or a railway from the main line.
We had to climb over a rocky spur.
Often appears as...
- rocky spur
- mountain spur
Usage tips
Geology
Definition 1 of 5
Pro Tip 1/3Equestrian Gear
Spur is part of horse-riding equipment, specifically attached to the rider's heel.
Before riding, he made sure his spurs were secure.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Cruel
Spurs are not meant to harm the horse, but to signal it to move faster.
She used the spurs delicately to urge the horse on.
Pro Tip 3/3Historical Symbol
Spurs also symbolize knighthood and valor in historical contexts.
The knight was awarded golden spurs for his bravery.
Pro Tip 1/3Equestrian Gear
Spur is part of horse-riding equipment, specifically attached to the rider's heel.
Before riding, he made sure his spurs were secure.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Cruel
Spurs are not meant to harm the horse, but to signal it to move faster.
She used the spurs delicately to urge the horse on.
Pro Tip 3/3Historical Symbol
Spurs also symbolize knighthood and valor in historical contexts.
The knight was awarded golden spurs for his bravery.
Pro Tip 1/3Equestrian Gear
Spur is part of horse-riding equipment, specifically attached to the rider's heel.
Before riding, he made sure his spurs were secure.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Cruel
Spurs are not meant to harm the horse, but to signal it to move faster.
She used the spurs delicately to urge the horse on.
Pro Tip 3/3Historical Symbol
Spurs also symbolize knighthood and valor in historical contexts.
The knight was awarded golden spurs for his bravery.
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Video examples
How a wound heals itself...
Among the most important of these are white blood cells, known as macrophages, which devour bacteria and damage tissue through a process known as phagocytosis, in addition to producing growth factors to spur healing. And because these tiny soldiers need to travel through the blood to get to the wound site,
Video examples
Can steroids save your...
which spurs the body to generate more glucose for energy, decrease functions not immediately related to survival, like digestion, and can activate a fight-flight-or-freeze response. This is helpful in the short term, but can cause undesirable side effects
Video examples
How computers translate...
will only continue to spur greater advances in automatic translation. Perhaps by the time we encounter intergalactic life forms, we'll be able to communicate with them through a tiny gizmo, or we might have to start compiling that dictionary, after all.
Video examples
Erika Cheung: Theranos,...
I was robbed at gunpoint, I was sexually assaulted, and I was sexually assaulted a third time, spurring on very severe panic attacks, where I was failing my classes, and I dropped out of school. And at this moment, people had said to me,
Video examples
What's Driving Tigers...
tiger cubs the tiger temple incident may have spurred the international community to take more concrete steps to prevent wild tigers from going extinct societies the treaty that regulates international wildlife trade now requires all
Video examples
A year in the life of...
Two males also occupy this area and, soon enough, they begin competing for her affections. Each has spurs on its hind legs containing a potent snake-like venom. One male fights the other off and courts the female over several weeks,
Video examples
Bringing science to life...
when I did the dance of the great crested grebe by myself suspected but the doctors did not know for another few years and by that time the tumor which made me over produce human growth hormone had grown bone spurs and brought
Video examples
Dambisa Moyo: Is China...
has helped to spur industrialization and also helped in the creation and the building of things like household appliances such as refrigerators and televisions, motor vehicles and even the mobile phones in your pockets.
Video examples
The three different ways...
like the duck-bill platypus's webbed feet, bill, and the venomous spur males have on their feet, they are, in fact, mammals. That's because they share the defining characteristics of mammalia
Video examples
Hornbills Pluck Bats...
spurred on the horn bells launch their aerial assault
Video examples
How a wound heals itself...
Among the most important of these are white blood cells, known as macrophages, which devour bacteria and damage tissue through a process known as phagocytosis, in addition to producing growth factors to spur healing. And because these tiny soldiers need to travel through the blood to get to the wound site,
Video examples
Can steroids save your...
which spurs the body to generate more glucose for energy, decrease functions not immediately related to survival, like digestion, and can activate a fight-flight-or-freeze response. This is helpful in the short term, but can cause undesirable side effects
Video examples
How computers translate...
will only continue to spur greater advances in automatic translation. Perhaps by the time we encounter intergalactic life forms, we'll be able to communicate with them through a tiny gizmo, or we might have to start compiling that dictionary, after all.
Video examples
Erika Cheung: Theranos,...
I was robbed at gunpoint, I was sexually assaulted, and I was sexually assaulted a third time, spurring on very severe panic attacks, where I was failing my classes, and I dropped out of school. And at this moment, people had said to me,
Video examples
What's Driving Tigers...
tiger cubs the tiger temple incident may have spurred the international community to take more concrete steps to prevent wild tigers from going extinct societies the treaty that regulates international wildlife trade now requires all
Video examples
A year in the life of...
Two males also occupy this area and, soon enough, they begin competing for her affections. Each has spurs on its hind legs containing a potent snake-like venom. One male fights the other off and courts the female over several weeks,
Video examples
Bringing science to life...
when I did the dance of the great crested grebe by myself suspected but the doctors did not know for another few years and by that time the tumor which made me over produce human growth hormone had grown bone spurs and brought
Video examples
Dambisa Moyo: Is China...
has helped to spur industrialization and also helped in the creation and the building of things like household appliances such as refrigerators and televisions, motor vehicles and even the mobile phones in your pockets.
Video examples
The three different ways...
like the duck-bill platypus's webbed feet, bill, and the venomous spur males have on their feet, they are, in fact, mammals. That's because they share the defining characteristics of mammalia
Video examples
Hornbills Pluck Bats...
spurred on the horn bells launch their aerial assault
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
James Surowiecki
American Journalist
Intellectual-property rules are clearly necessary to spur innovation: if every invention could be stolen, or every new drug immediately copied, few people would invest in innovation. But too much protection can strangle competition and can limit what economists call 'incremental innovation' - innovations that build, in some way, on others.
Quote examples
Ernest Istook
American Politician
Research and development needs permanent tax credits to build the technology that spurs our growth. But no government programs alone can get America's students to study more science and math; parents must push and help their children to meet this goal.
Quote examples
Walter F. Mondale
American Lawyer
I earned my spurs in the civil rights movement. All my life, not for political but for religious reasons, moral reasons, that's where I've been, and I'm proud of it, and I'll always be there.
Quote examples
Robin Gibb
English Musician
I haven't really met anyone else who has influenced me, but you never know, it could happen next year or next month. I just like to go with the spur of the moment.
Quote examples
Kane
American Athlete
I think Trump's done a very good job, especially with the economy, and we see he's cut regulation, I think the tax cuts really help spur some growth.
Quote examples
Jeff Goodell
American Author
In reality, studies show that investments to spur renewable energy and boost energy efficiency generate far more jobs than oil and coal.
Quote examples
Miranda Hart
English Actress
My mum said to me once years ago, which really spurred me on, 'You're the funniest person I know'. I loved that.
Quote examples
Orison Swett Marden
American Writer
Necessity has been a priceless spur which has helped men to perform miracles against incredible odds.
Quote examples
Fallon Sherrock
English Entertainer
I don't take any notice of negative stuff said on social media. If anything it spurs me on more.
Quote examples
Nicholas Hoult
English Actor
Other people's success spurs me on to do well and gives me motivation.
Quote examples
James Surowiecki
American Journalist
Intellectual-property rules are clearly necessary to spur innovation: if every invention could be stolen, or every new drug immediately copied, few people would invest in innovation. But too much protection can strangle competition and can limit what economists call 'incremental innovation' - innovations that build, in some way, on others.
Quote examples
Ernest Istook
American Politician
Research and development needs permanent tax credits to build the technology that spurs our growth. But no government programs alone can get America's students to study more science and math; parents must push and help their children to meet this goal.
Quote examples
Walter F. Mondale
American Lawyer
I earned my spurs in the civil rights movement. All my life, not for political but for religious reasons, moral reasons, that's where I've been, and I'm proud of it, and I'll always be there.
Quote examples
Robin Gibb
English Musician
I haven't really met anyone else who has influenced me, but you never know, it could happen next year or next month. I just like to go with the spur of the moment.
Quote examples
Kane
American Athlete
I think Trump's done a very good job, especially with the economy, and we see he's cut regulation, I think the tax cuts really help spur some growth.
Quote examples
Jeff Goodell
American Author
In reality, studies show that investments to spur renewable energy and boost energy efficiency generate far more jobs than oil and coal.
Quote examples
Miranda Hart
English Actress
My mum said to me once years ago, which really spurred me on, 'You're the funniest person I know'. I loved that.
Quote examples
Orison Swett Marden
American Writer
Necessity has been a priceless spur which has helped men to perform miracles against incredible odds.
Quote examples
Fallon Sherrock
English Entertainer
I don't take any notice of negative stuff said on social media. If anything it spurs me on more.
Quote examples
Nicholas Hoult
English Actor
Other people's success spurs me on to do well and gives me motivation.
Example 1 of 10
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